Jacksonville Civil Rights Conference
The inaugural Jacksonville Civil Rights Conference, Feb. 3-5, 2022, will transform the way you think about Civil Rights movements and empower all ages and backgrounds to embrace their role in building racial equity.
This first-of-its-kind conference will bridge historic and contemporary Civil Rights movements by connecting history, community, arts and culture, and multi-generational partnerships in ways that activate the socio-political imagination and move humanity forward.
The conference will feature powerful keynote speakers; an official commemoration of Ax Handle Saturday; thought-provoking educational breakout conversations led by national experts; emotional visual and performing arts; and much more. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination and masks are required to attend in-person.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022
4:00 – 7:00 PM
REGISTRATION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
7:00 – 9:00 PM
EVENING OPENING RECEPTION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
Keynote speaker…….Leon Russell, chair, National Board of Directors, NAACP
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
8:30 – 9:00 AM
NETWORKING AND COFFEE (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
9:00 – 10:30 AM
BREAKFAST SESSION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
Keynote speaker…..Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
For in-person attendees only; breakout-room discussions with expert leaders who will guide reflections on the most-recent keynote address.
1:00 – 2:30 PM
LUNCHEON SESSION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
Keynote speaker….Dr. Johnnetta Cole, president emerita, Spelman College and Bennett College
2:45 – 4 PM
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
For in-person attendees only; breakout-room discussions with expert leaders who will guide reflections on the most-recent keynote address.
7:00 – 9:30 PM
MASS MEETING (THE BETHEL CHURCH)
Commemoration of the 61st anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday
Keynote speaker……the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, American academic, author, ordained minister and radio host
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022
8:00 AM
BREAKFAST OPENS (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
9:00 – 10:30 AM
BREAKFAST SESSION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
Keynote speakers and youth leaders to be announced
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM
MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS (SOUTH BANK MARRIOTT)
For in-person attendees only; breakout-room discussions with expert leaders who will guide reflections on the most-recent keynote address.
1:00 — 2:30 PM
LUNCHEON SESSION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
Panel discussion on racial equity topics featuring:
Charlie Cobb, journalist, professor and former activist with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
Rodney L. Hurst, author, Civil Rights activist, Black historian
The Rev. Christopher McKee, senior pastor of The First Baptist Church of Oakland
Chevara Orrin, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, social justice activist, independent filmmaker, social entrepreneur and author
2:45 – 4:00 PM
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
7:00 – 9:30 PM
CONCERT CELEBRATION (SOUTHBANK MARRIOTT)
G.C. Cameron, former singer with The Spinners and The Temptations, accompanied by local band, The Katz Downstairs
CONFERENCE ENDS
The inaugural Jacksonville Civil Rights Conference is brought to you by a collaborative partnership of local Civil Rights leaders, race-equity advocates and organizations committed to a more equitable Jacksonville. Conceptualized by Rodney L. Hurst Sr., Jacksonville Black historian, Civil Rights activist, and NAACP Youth Council president during the 1960 sit-ins, the conference is led by LIFE (Leadership is for Everyone, Inc.) and United Way of Northeast Florida to provide critically important learning exchanges that will deepen and strengthen racial equity and social justice initiatives throughout Jacksonville. Additional partners include Hope McMath of Yellow House, Tan Mayhew of Journey2Joy Events and Chris Janson of The Proximity People, LLC. The event is generously sponsored by Miller Electric Company, United Way of Northeast Florida, and more to be announced.
